Wheel-flange and rail lubricator.



N0. 830,241. v PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

A. G. LOVE.

WHEEL FLANGE AND RAIL LUBRIOATOR.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 2, 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT -()FFICE.

ANDREW 0. LOVE, OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

WHEEL-FLANGE AND RAIL LUBRICATOR.

To (I/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW C. LOVE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sacramento, in the county of Sacramento and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wheel-Flange and Rail Lubrlcators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to lubricators for carwheel flanges and track-rails. Its object is to provide a simple, practical, automaticallyoperated labor-saving means for lubricating the wheel-flanges on street-cars and the like and for lubricating the track-rails to prevent friction, wear, and noise on going around curves.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and the combination of parts, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view, partly diagrammatic, representing my invention. a side elevation of the same. tial in section of my valve.

The present inventionis articularly adapted for use on electric cars; ut it will be manifest that the same principle is capable of wide application.

A represents the frame of an ordinary cartruck, which is swiveled to the car 2 at 3. The truck carries a switch member 4, and the car-body carries the cooperatingswitch members 5 5, the latter being arranged so that one or the other will be engaged by the member 4 Fig. 3 is a dewhenever the car strikes a curve to close the circuit between a source of electrical suppl and the magnets 6. At all other times w t the car on a straight track the member 4 W111 stand between and out of contact with the members 5, so that the magnets remain normally inert.

Each magnet 6 controls a valve 7, which governs the flow of a suitable lubricant th'rough respective pipes 8 to the wheelfianges and track.

The pines 9 may connect with any suitable source of lubricant-sup ly ontothe car, as the tank 9, by means o the flexible connections 10. Either oil, water, or other liquid suitable for lubricating purposes may be employed.

The pipes 8 are adapted to dischar e against the inside of the rail or on the whee flange, and preferably forked nozzles 11 are employed, so that a stream of iubr'icant will Specification of Letters Patent.

Anplicatifn filed January 2, 1906.

Fig. 2 is Patented Sept. 4,1906.

Serial No. 294,166.

- be directed to both sides of the wheeled flange, thus obviating friction and noise where guard-rails are employed on curves.

The magnets,-valves, and the pipes 8 are mounted on the trucks, since their position relative to each other and the position of the discharge-nozzles 11 relative to the wheels and tracks must remain uniform.

The valves 8 may be of any suitable construction. Each is maintained in normally closed position by means of a spring 12 and is only opened whenits magnet is energized to attract the armature-plate 13 on the valvestem. The magnets may be operated either by the current which propels the car or from an independent source of supply.

In operation with the car on a straight track the movable switch memberv 4 will stand between the relatively stationary members 5 and the circuit between the source of electrical supply and the magnets will be broken, leaving the magnets inoperative and the valves in normally closed position. However, as soon as the car strikes a curve the truck is turned in one direction or the other underneath the car to carry the member 4 into'ccntact with one or the other of the switch members 5 to close the circuit, energize the magnets, open the valves, and allow the lubricant to flow to the wheel-flanges and track-rails. As soon as the car passes the curve the truck straightens out again, interrupting the connection between the switch members 4 5, breaking the circuit, and allowing the valves to close.

. It is possible that various modifications in my invention may be made without departing from the principle thereof, and I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to my specific construction beyond what is reuired by a reasonable interpretation of my 0 arms.

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim,-and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a track-rail,.of a car mounted thereon, a source of lubricantsupply on the car, and electrically operated valved connections with said source of supply for deliverrng the lubricant to the trackrail.

2. The combination with a track-rail, of a car mounted thereon, a source of lubricantsupply on the car, connections with said source of supply for delivering lubricant to the rail, and electrical means controlled by supply on the car, connections with said source of supply for delivering lubricant to the rail, valve mechanism in said connections, and electrically-operated means controllable by the car .movements for operating said valve mechanism.

5. The combination with a track-rail of a car thereon, a source-of lubricant-supply'on the car, connections with said source of supply for deliveringa lubricant to the rail,valve mechanism in said connections, a magnet for operating said valve mechanism; switch mechanism interposed between said magnet 3 and a source of electrical'supply, and means movements of the truck and car for operating .car, connections with said source of supply 30 controlled by the movements of the car to operate said switch mechanism.

6'. In' a car, the combination of a swiveled truck, a source of lubricant-supply on the for delivering lubricant to the wheels 0 the truck, valve mechanism in said connections;

and a normally broken electric circuit, said circuit being closed by the relative movements of the truck and car for operating said valve mechanism.

7. In a car, the'c ombination ofi-a wheeled truck, a lubricant-supplypipe on the truck, a valve in said pipe, connections between said pipe and a source of supply, and electricallycontrolled devices operated by the relative said valve.

8. In a car, the combination ofa'wheeled' truck, a lubricant-supply pipe on the truck, a

valve in said pipe, connections between said pipe and a source of supply, and electrically-- controlled devices operated by the relative movements of the truck and car for operating said valve, said lubricant-supply pipe having nozzles adapted todischarge on each side of the wheel-flange.

9. In-a car, the combination of a Wheeled truck, a lubricant-supply pipe on the truck, a valve in said pipe, and an electrically-operated inechanismactuated by the -relative movements ofthe truck and car-body for operating said valve. i

10. In a car,-the combination of a wheeled truck, a lubricant-supply pipe on the truclr, a

valve in the pipe, a magnet for o 'erating the valve, electrical connections wit said magnet, and a switch in said connections operated by the relative movements of the truck and car-body.

11. In a car, the combination of a wheeled truck, a lubricant-supply pipe on the truck, a valve in the pipe, a magnet for operating the 'valve, electrical connections with said magnet, a switchiri said connections operated by the relative movements of thetruck and carbody, and a switch in said electrical connections, said switch comprising a contact member carried by the truck, and a second'contact member carried by the car and arranged in the path of the first-named switch member.

12. he car, the combination with a track,- I rail, of a wheeled truck thereon, a car-body mounted on the truck, a pipe for delivering lubricant to the track-rail, a normally closed valve in said I ipe, an electric circuit for operating said va ve, and a switch in'saidcircuit operative by the relative movements of the car-body and truck.

13. In'a car, the combination with a trackrail, of.'a wheeled truck thereon, a car-body mounted on the truck, a pipe for deliverin lubricant tothe trackerail, a normally closed valve in said pipe, an electric circuit for operating said valve, and a switch in said circuit comprisin a switch member on the car and a correspon ngswitch member on the truck.

14. The combination of a track-raiL of a wheeled truck thereon, a car-body mounted on the truck, a source. of lubricant-'supply on the car-body, a pi e on the truck for delivering lubricant to t e'track-rail, flexible fluid connections between said pipe and said source of suppl electrically-operated normally closed va ve mechanism governing the flow ofv I lubricant through said pipe and connections,

and electrical connections for operating said valve mechanism.

- 15. The combination of a car having awheeled truck and a lubricant-sup ly pipewithv controlling-valve, oflectrica means operated by. the relative movements of the car and truck for energizing the valve to open the same for the passage of the lubricant. In testimony whereof I'have hereunto 'set my hand in presence of two subscribing witness'es.

ANDREW C. LOVE.

Witnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, D. B. RICHARDS. 

